test-drb April 1999

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

170 participants
1190 discussions

by geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au

-----Original Message----- From: Derek Peschel <dpeschel(a)u.washington.edu> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Saturday, 3 April 1999 7:21 Subject: Re: Sickening Documentation >Well, "decus" is a Latin word. (I forget what it means -- it's part of a >motto, "decus et tutamen". One translation could be "an ornament and a >safeguard", though I thought "an ARMAMENT and a shield" was the translation.) >So there's an angle that would encourage keeping the old name. Compus is also latin. IIRC, it means "sound" in the the sense "non compus mentus" (literally, "not of sound mind") Cheers Geoff Roberts

25 years, 1 month

HP21MX 12531C?

by jlwest＠tseinc.com

I have two HP 12531C interface cards, one known bad the other unknown. I'd like to test them out, but I need some info on jumper settings, etc.... Would anyone happen to have docs on the 12531C? Jay

25 years, 1 month

sinclair computer kits

by lemay＠cs.umn.edu

Does anyone know if the timex sinclair computers were ever sold in kit form by other companies? Long ago I purchased a MicroAce computer kit, and it sure looks like a timex sinclair 1000 (or probably an earlier model). This was sold by a company in Santa Ana, California. -Lawrence LeMay

25 years, 1 month

decitek reader

by jlwest＠tseinc.com

Does anyone have any docs on the decitek paper tape reader? Full docs would be fantastic, but initially just two items: 1) The unit appears to be set for 220v. Is there some simple strappings to change it to 110V? 2) I have no power cable for the unit, and it uses a (to me anyways) rather unique power cable. Any ideas where I might find a power cable (Digikey, etc?)? Thanks in advance! Jay West

25 years, 1 month

Nicolett NPC-764 CP/M machine & logic analyzer.

by jlewczyk＠his.com

I have an old Nicolett NPC-764, which is CP/M machine (8085 based) with built in Logic Analyzer hardware (its main function). The logic analyzer software was stored in 48K of ROM, and you could boot CP/M from there. Its a "luggable" computer (which means that they put a handle on it and bolted down all the boards ;-). One thing I do not have is any 5 1/4" floppy disks for it. Because of this, I can't boot CP/M and I don't have any of the software that came with the unit that assist in using some of the logic analyzer's abilities. Do have any idea on how I could get some of this software? Nicolet hasn't been any help. Thanks! - John Lewczyk - IO Consulting - 401 Queens Row Street - Herndon, Virginia 20170-3131 - jlewczyk(a)his.com

25 years, 1 month

Kits vs ready-made (was RE: Rebirth of IMSAI)

by edick＠idcomm.com

I take extra care with my prototypes because they not only prove the concept, but they have to serve as a development tool. In reality, wire-wrapped circuits are more likely to survive mishandling than a PCB would be. Whereas you could break a pin or a wire, that's normally quite apparent to visual inspection. I've got a whole paper-box full of perfect-looking PCB's which don't work because of some intermittent open or short due to an overetched or overstressed circuit board. Where space was a problem, I've been known (rarely) to ship prototypes which were hand-wired with point-to-point soldered #30 wire. This is much like wire-wrap, except it require much greater care to cut the wires to just the right length and strip just the right amount of insulation. It makes for plenty of wasted wire. BTW, TechAmerica now sells sheets of 0.100" matrix wire-wrap card with low-impeance ground/Vcc plane on top/bottom, similar to what I used to build into my wire-wrap boards. This is really handy, because you can isolate one section of ground plane from another with a Dremel tool and connect them with a bypassed ferrite bead or low-value resistor. This makes for realtively quite regions if you take sufficient pains. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, April 02, 1999 11:23 AM Subject: Re: Kits vs ready-made (was RE: Rebirth of IMSAI) >> >> This strategy is pretty popular with analog work being tried for the first >> time. I prefer to wire-wrap my digital stuff, and I've shown that wire-wrap > >Yes, dead bugging takes far too long for most digital stuff. I still >think you need a groundplane for anything with dfast edges (which means >just about anything using modern chips). > >> between digital and analog circuitry can be mde to work as well. I prefer > >I've been known to screw a piece of copperclad as a 'dead bug' >groundplane to the edge of a board containing wire-wrapped circuitry. It >might not look all that neat, but it's solid, and it works. > >> my prototypes to be really rugged unless there's a specific reason why one >> can't be, and I'm always afraid to play with those "spiderweb-technology" >> circuits, so once built, they never get any improvement from me. > >There is rarely any excuse for sloppy construction, even in prototypes. > >> >> Now, I've learned a few tricks from those analog weenies who use this kind >> of stuff all the time. I'll certainly never forget watching one guy track >> down a 4MHz clock from a processor getting into the analog section of his >> circuit by using a divider with points sharp enough to penetrate the solder >> mask and a spectrum analyzer. He found the section of ground plane which >> needed bypass, then fixed it with a couple of capacitors bypassing the >> unwanted signal to just the right place. No mean trick if you ask me. > >Another trick worth knowing is that sometimes cutting a slot in the >groundplane can isolate a noise source (like that processor) from the >sensitive input circuitry. You want to prevent digital ground currents >from getting anywhere near the analogue side. The impedance of a >groundplane can cause problems. > >-tony >

25 years, 1 month

first DEC machine

by red＠bears.org

Howdy; Several years ago while I was at UW I promised myself that one day I'd get a VAX and learn how to use VMS. That day came yesterday, when a VAXstation 3100m76 showed up on my doorstep. So in the immortal words of Zane, "I can't get it to boot." (: I realise I may be making an entirely faulty set of assumptions about what I'm doing so here's where I'm at. I received also an LK201 keyboard, the wondrous "hockey puck" mouse, and the video cable (15 pin D-sub on one end, 3 BNC plus what look to be keyboard and mouse connectors). The machine supposedly has SPX graphics. I connected the video cable to the appropriate port on the rear of the VAX, and plugged the keyboard and mouse into the connectors on the cable, and the 3 BNC to a NEC 5fge, which supports composite sync-on-green and I'm fairly sure should sync up to whatever the VAX puts out. Switched the machine on, and waited. And waited. Nothing. No lights on the keyboard, nothing on the display. The LED status whatsis at the rear wibbled around a bit but I didn't pay close attention to what it was doing. The disks never spun up. I tried again with the keyboard and mouse plugged into the connectors on the back of the machine, and got keyboard lights, but aside from that had the same luck as before. What should I be looking at first? I'll try to borrow from work a cable I can use to connect a serial terminal to the box to see if anything useful happens then. ok r.

25 years, 1 month

Sickening Documentation

by mbg＠world.std.com

>I don't mind the "Compaq" where the "digital" used to be, it's the >"Compaq OpenVMS" I find sick! How egotistical! What about DECUS?... I received my booklet announcing the next DECUS, and it says 'DECUS, A Compaq Users Group'. ugh. Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry!zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg!world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of '!' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

25 years, 1 month

first DEC machine

by emu＠ecubics.com

Hi r, Tell us the signature of the LED's. Probably, something is wrong with your motherboard, memory, graphics ... Another idea is to plug in a terminal in the printer port. probably you get a message there.And don't forget to put the little switch "up" that is left to the 8 LEDs. If it is already "up" you have the terminal as the console already, so you don't get anything on the Monitor. You told that you have a Lk201 ? Which of the LEDs are on ? (they displaying some errors from the box too) hope it helps, cheers, emanuel ---------- > From: R. Stricklin (kjaeros) <red(a)bears.org> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > Subject: first DEC machine > Date: Friday, April 02, 1999 2:22 PM > > > Howdy; > > Several years ago while I was at UW I promised myself that one day I'd get > a VAX and learn how to use VMS. That day came yesterday, when a VAXstation > 3100m76 showed up on my doorstep. BTW, the name for my is "godot" simply because I waited so long ... > I received also an LK201 keyboard, the wondrous "hockey puck" mouse, and > the video cable (15 pin D-sub on one end, 3 BNC plus what look to be > keyboard and mouse connectors). The machine supposedly has SPX graphics. nice !!! > Switched the machine on, and waited. And waited. Nothing. No lights on the > keyboard, nothing on the display. The LED status whatsis at the rear > wibbled around a bit but I didn't pay close attention to what it was > doing. That's bad .. > The disks never spun up. Usually they spin up, IF the system tries to boot from them, or you execute a "show config" > I tried again with the keyboard and mouse plugged into the connectors on > the back of the machine, and got keyboard lights, but aside from that had > the same luck as before. which lights ?

25 years, 1 month

Real Hackers, tools of the trade (was Re: Vector Graphic range...)

by danburrows＠mindspring.com

> >A tip I saw in a magazine a few weeks back (and haven't tried) for >sharpening dull reamers was to run a carbide-tipped lathe tool (about >\pounds 5.00 if you don't have one) along the flutes of the reamer (up >under the flutes I guess). Apparently, this will put the edge back on. Someday I will have to try that. > >Were you saying that Xcellite used to do them in the 99 range? They're >now listing tamperproof Torx in a couple of sizes. > I have gotten rather frustrated with Xcellite over the last 10+ years because they are so slow to come out with new stuff. All of my tamperproof bits are other MFG. Dan

25 years, 1 month

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test-drb April 1999